Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel Payment Debate

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Department: Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Advisory Committee: Winter Fuel Payment

Damian Hinds Excerpts
Tuesday 12th November 2024

(1 week, 2 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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Yes, as I understand it that is in the Scottish Government’s gift.

Damian Hinds Portrait Damian Hinds (East Hampshire) (Con)
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Has the Minister had the chance to visit the DWP library, and has she made a note of how many drives there have been over the years to take up pension credit, and whether any of them ever reached as high even as three quarters of those who are eligible?

Emma Reynolds Portrait Emma Reynolds
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The previous Government promised 13 years ago to merge housing benefit with pension credit, which would be a significant advance towards improvements. We are introducing that in January. We will have been in power for only six months, but we will have done more than the previous Government did in 14 years.